Saving $$$

Ok so I have discovered a way to blog at work. Just write it up in a word document and email it to myself. And speaking of work… I feel like I should blog about saving some $$. I will be heading to graduate school in almost a month, and as shown on The Simpsons in the following video

, graduate students are the epitome of the “starving college student”. For this blog I am going to surf the net and see if I can find anything useful about saving money, especially for graduate and college students.

These are a few of my own money saving tricks:

Again with my iPod touch I found the app called Mint. This application shows you where you are spending your money and allows you to create a budget for different categories. It is also available online at www.mint.com. I would seriously recommend this website for anyone who is starting their first budget, even though it is far from perfect.

I have also started “thrifting” on eBay. While again, this isn’t perfect due to shipping costs, it does allow you to have more selection on used clothing. Two more issues with this is, you don’t get to try on the clothes before you buy them and you could get bidding happy and spend more than you wanted. It IS still a ton of fun and I have found the perfect LBD for only 10.00 (including shipping).

-www.half.com is my favorite textbook website! Or chegg.com works also if you want to rent a book. Sell your textbooks back ASAP. If you wait the price diminishes. I really loved selling mine back at amazon.com, where you get a Amazon gift card to use on next semesters books.

-www.ebates.com  A great way to save when you shop online! It really does add up!! Create an account TODAY!

On getrichslowly.com they did have a wonderful list of cheap, but healthy foods and here they are:

-Vegetable stir fry with rice (Rice and frozen vegetables can’t be too expensive)

-Do not drink soda, drink water

-Pasta with marinara sauce

-Smoothies

-Cheese and crackers

-Nuts (ALMONDS for me J which also help BURN FAT. Yay.)

-Beans

-Fruits and veggies.

Even though the food choices were quite obvious one thing that was in common with all of these: NONE OF THEM ARE PROCESSED FOODS. A goal of mine is to really start cooking for myself, and eating more fresh fruits and veggies. I am actually very excited for this. I even bought a Crockpot for myself! Also oatmeal is fast filling and freaking affordable. It may not taste the best, but it is healthy.

More tips on eating and saving:

-Quit the takeout habit. Keep plenty of healthy snacks at home. My favorite is soup! It doesn’t go bad, and if you buy it on sale you can buy a TON of it for really cheap. It is also easy to make and if you buy the right kind (Progresso is my favorite and it is really healthy. The French Onion soup is 0 Weight Watchers points!!) it can be a great diet food too. Takeout and fast food tastes ridiculously good, I know, but your also paying the price of usually eating unhealthy as well as paying somebody to make your food for you! And if your driving your also going to use some gas.

-Before you go grocery shopping collect coupons.. I know I always feel like a jerk when I whip them out, but it is so easy and it can eventually add up.

-Take a frugal friend with you (AKA Ashley Freeby) You two can hunt for sales and convince each other not to buy expensive foods! This also works well with clothes shopping.

-Do NOT shop hungry. Have a snack before you go.

-I am a bottled water addict, but this habit can seriously add up as well. I honestly never really liked my Brita filter, but I guess you could try it. Now that I have a real fridge I am going to start buying store brand gallon jugs. Sometimes these can only cost 99c and you are not hurting the environment as bad as you would be if you were buying a ton of smaller bottles.

Dating:

Are you thinking of dating in graduate school? (I have heard from many graduate students that this is a no no, but I never take dating off of my list of potential things to do.. Just in case haha). I remember not going out on dates very much at Lyco, even though I was not single for some of it. Money was also an issue, which makes sense. And men if you want to ask someone out I am sure they wont be terribly offended if you say that you are on a budget but you have a creative idea. Actually, I would be flattered that they weren’t embarrassed by being in the situation that most college students are in (being broke I mean). Well on youngmoney.com they had a few great suggestions:

1. Take advantage of Mother Nature. Go for a hike or a picnic or a walk or something. If you still are the unfortunate people with a meal plan, steal food items from the cafeteria to save even more money. And you can really get to know someone on a quiet hike, AND also get a workout. Sometimes this beats eating extremely unhealthy, expensive food, in loud restaurant.
   
   
2. A coffee date. Coffee is not really my favorite thing, but I do really enjoy a latte from time to time (or a macchiato… YUM!). These dates are relatively inexpensive and they have the same feel as an actual restaurant. Again this is also a fun way to get to know one another.
   
   
3. Use www.citysearch.com. I checked this website out and it is LEGIT! It will show you great deals on restaurants, bars and shopping places. A deal or a coupon or a discount never hurts!!
   
   
4. Do things on campus. Lyco students: Remember the free movie every weekend? It may not be glamorous but it could still count as a date.

Also some date ideas that I came up with by myself:

-If you think the starving artist type is sexy, ditch the museums and hit up galleries. You will not actually buy the art because it is usually very expensive, but you will still get to discuss art, which can be really fun.

-If you two are into gaming, both of you should put 10 dollars in your pocket, change those dollars into quarters and hit the arcade. Make it a competition to see who can win the most “romantic” gift with the tickets you win. (Yeah, yeah I am lame. Give me a break haha. I think it would be fun at least.)

-Make your date homemade food. Invite him or her over for dinner at your place. This is cheaper than going out and you might get help with the clean up. Also, you can set the mood by lighting candles and putting down a nice table cloth. You can also figure out drinks to make or grab some cheap wine beforehand. Men: Most women find it sexy when you cook. Self sufficiency is HOT. Living in a dorm? One of my favorite things that me and an x used to do is hit up a grocery store, grab a rotisserie chicken, some instant mashed potatoes, vegetables and something like ice cream for dessert. We would find an empty lounge to cook and eat in and have we would have a nice dinner that was not the cafeteria. Also whatever minimal effort it took to cook the food, was very entertaining to do it together. On top of that it was a nice romantic dinner!

-Look for open mic nights if you and your partner are into music. This is a great way to critique music, and talk about it. Plus you only really need to buy a cup of coffee or the like.

Drinking:

 I have never seen my bank account number drop so quickly before I turned 21. I am sure most of you have learned these by now.. But just in case…

-Sorry guys but buy the freaking cheap stuff :/. Always remember natty isn’t the worst thing in the world, and a case is so cheap. You will save so much money if you don’t splurge all the time on good beer or liquor. “Vodka is vodka” my old marketing professor used to always tell us. My personal favorite is cheap wine. I am obsessed with Moscatto! St. Genevieve doesn’t taste the best but boy will you have a fun night (and a not so fun morning..) Barefoot Moscatto is even cheaper, but the buzz isn’t as strong. I also look for sales and stock up.

- Buy in bulk. I never ever buy fifths unless they are a specific flavor that doesn’t come in a handle. Beer is the same.

-Only drink when the specials are. Lyco students… Wednesday nights.. haha. Bars can get SO expensive and it really really adds up. Also look for no cover charges.

-Only bring a certain amount of cash to the bars so you will only spend that much. Also you won’t drunkenly lose your credit card.

-PREGAME.

Cheap ways to decorate your apartment:

-I found this FANTASTIC website with so many creative and interesting ideas! It is http://www.rentaldecorating.com/Budget%20Decorating.htm. I cannot stress how awesome this website is. They have so many great ideas from decorating small spaces to spicing up your bathroom cheaply!! Unfortunately after reading it, it really makes me sad that I cannot paint my own apartment. Oh well, maybe next one.  

-Again, eBay has been a life saver for cheap and very unique posters as well as other crazy household decorations. You can also find very interesting vintage wall decorations that no one else will have! Another plus is you can look for a category that you like and you can pick themes. It is so much fun to shop too because you never know what you might find. I recommend wall stickers as well. The ones that I find in American stores are so cheesy compared to the ones that can be shipped to you from other countries such as China. CAUTION: Watch out for shipping prices!!

-If your like me and love bright colors shop NOW. All of the summer stuff is on clearance. My kitchen is going to be so bright and happy and I am very excited!!

-Tis the season for yard sales. Look for interesting one of a kind wall decorations to save space.

-Accents with different textures add a funky feel, and this can also be cheap!

-Keep your apartment clutter free!! This adds extra space and makes you feel better. (Plus its free).

-One word. Ross.

-And here is another website for all you apartment first timers:http://interiordec.about.com/od/firstapartments/Decorating_Your_First_Apartment.htmThis has wonderful links to many things!!

Just other tid bits that I found on getrichslowly.com:

-Spend less than you earn. (REALLY watch your budget. Even if it is only 10$)

-ALWAYS ASK “Do I need this?” If you don’t put it back! (This is a tough one for me)

- KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT (which I previously mentioned)

-Graduate students: I would not recommend getting cable. We are probably going to be wicked busy and I have lived without cable most of my life. It is not so bad.

Blog news:

Well my biggest news as of last time I blogged, is that I got a new KITTEN! She is such a brat but she is so freaking CUTE! (See Facebook for pictures). She will be coming with me to my apartment and I am trying to make her become a well behaved kitty. She is so curious about everything and she is so outgoing! I love it!

I have started doing Weight Watchers to look sexy on my vacation and things are working out WONDERFULLY. I am finally starting to lose some weight and I am feeling much better about myself. My Wii Fit was even proud. I have also been doing interval training which works so much better than cardio!! (Well it IS cardio, just a different type). I have to remember to always go back to the Weight Watchers points if I am having trouble controlling what I eat.

I am SOOOO EXCITED FOR MY VACATION WITH SUZANNE!! We are planning to stay at Myrtle Beach for two days, we are going to see Louisa, AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOJA AT THE END!! They are so amazing and I have heard many many MANY good reviews on their live performances. We also have/are making plenty of other plans JJ. So much excitement!! I really, truly need a break from this cubie!! Hopefully after this summer this is it for the cubicles J.

Everything is really falling into place with graduate school. I have my own place to live, where I can have pets and there is a pool and a fitness center are also on the premises. I have also been putting my resume online, trying to find something to do during the school year and I did get a call back from a place that helps families with children who have psychological disorders. I hope I get this job because it sounds challenging and in my field, which would be wonderful! I am also very excited to move into my apartment, even if it is in Indiana PA. I thought about it and I am happy that I am going to school in a not so exciting place, simply because I can focus on work and studying. I will have plenty of opportunities to move AFTER I graduateJ. I am of course getting a little nervous. As some of you know I do not do well with change at first, but I am confident that everything will work out just fine. I am really in the mood for a fresh start and I would love to meet some new people!! I also got my financial aid reward, and I will be A OK until I graduate and I have to pay it all back :/. But I had a HUGE sigh of relief when it came. I am also happy I picked a cheap state school!!

Well the day is almost over. Happy hump day!!